Nutritional interactions in mixed species forests: a synthesis

For more than a century, scientists have considered whether mixtures of tree species may differ in nutrition and yield relative to monocultures. We review the empirical evidence on the nutritional interactions of tree species in mixtures, including information on foliar nutrition, soil nutrient supply, rates of nutrient input, and patterns of root distribution. Linear effects were most common, with mixtures intermediate in value between monocultures. In some cases, values for mixtures were lower than expected, indicating an antagonistic interaction. A few cases that included nitrogen- fixing species showed a synergistic interaction, with mixtures showing higher values than monocultures. Nutrient concentrations in foliage of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière) were improved in mixtures with other conifers in three studies, in contrast to four studies with mixtures of various conifers and hardwoods that showed no effect of mixtures on foliage nutrient concentrations. Mixtures that combine species with and without the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen have shown a full range of foliar responses from decreases to increases in phosphorus, to increases in nitrogen, to no effect of mixtures. Rates of litter decomposition usually showed no effect of species mixtures, but a few cases demonstrated both increases and decreases in decomposition relative to monocultures. Pools of soil nutrients generally did not differ between mixtures and monocultures. Root distributions in mixtures of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) were altered in mixtures; compared with monocultures, spruce rooted more shallowly in mixtures with beech, and beech rooted more deeply in mixtures with spruce. General conclusions are limited by the small number of studies that directly addressed mixed-species effects in forests, and the wide variety of observed interactions. Further research would be particularly helpful in identifying situations where nonlinear interactions may develop, including the species and site conditions that promote nonlinear interactions. Neighborhood methods, which analyze the relationship between stand composition and nutritional properties on a small spatial scale, offer great potential for exploring nutritional effects in mixed-species stands.

Download Full-text

Nutrient concentrations and nitrogen mineralization in forest floors of single species conifer plantations in coastal British Columbia

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x00-062 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 30 (9) ◽

pp. 1341-1352 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

C E Prescott ◽

L Vesterdal ◽

J Pratt ◽

K H Venner ◽

L M de Montigny ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Mineralization ◽

Tree Species ◽

N Mineralization ◽

Single Species ◽

Douglas Fir ◽

Picea Sitchensis ◽

Slope Position ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Net N Mineralization ◽

Forest Floors

We examined the extent to which nutrient concentrations and C and N mineralization rates in forests floors under different tree species are predictable from the chemistry of foliar litter and its rate of decomposition. We studied replicated single species plantations of western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) at four locations. Nutrient concentrations in forest floors correlated poorly with litter nutrient concentrations; the only significant relationships were for Ca and K. Nitrogen mineralization correlated weakly with forest floor C/N ratio, and differed more among sites than among species. None of the litter chemistry parameters were related to net N mineralization rates. Decomposition was fastest in hemlock litter, intermediate in Douglas-fir litter and lowest in cedar litter. Litter also decomposed more rapidly on hemlock forest floors than on cedar forest floors. Rates of N mineralization in the forest floors were not related to rates of decomposition of foliar litter. Differences among sites in N mineralization rates were related to the understory vegetation composition, particularly the amount of the ericaceous shrub salal, which in turn was related to slope position. These site factors appeared to override the effect of tree species on rates of N mineralization.

Download Full-text

Foliar Mass and Nutrition of Abies concolor Christmas Trees following Application of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer

Northern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/njaf/27.1.28 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 28-33 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Robert A. Slesak ◽

Russell D. Briggs

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Nutrient Deficiency ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Chicken Manure ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Abies Concolor ◽

Foliar Nutrition ◽

Nutrient Pools ◽

Christmas Trees ◽

Balanced Tree

Abstract Fertilization in Christmas tree production is common to increase tree growth and quality, with many recommendations focusing on N as a primary amendment. However, other nutrients may limit growth, or N application may induce deficiency of other nutrients. We applied fertilizer as either ammonium nitrate (AN) or chicken manure compost (CMC) to concolor fir (Abies concolor [Gord. and Glend.] Lindl.) at eight sites across central New York in 2003 and measured foliar mass and macronutrient response (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) to assess the potential for an inducible nutrient deficiency or nutrient limitation other than N. Foliage mass, N concentration, and N content increased following both fertilizer treatments, indicating that N limits growth at these sites. Macronutrient (P, K, Mg, Ca) concentrations were reduced following AN application because of nutrient dilution following increased growth. Compared with published sufficiency nutrient concentrations, concentrations of P and K were diluted to levels considered limiting to growth. In contrast, there was no reduction in macronutrient concentrations for P, Ca, and Mg in the CMC application, indicating the potential for this amendment to maintain balanced tree nutrition with increased growth. Foliar K content was increased in the CMC treatment, and needle mass (as the primary growth response variable), was correlated with foliar K concentration (r2 = 0.71, P < 0.01). The results indicate a strong possibility of K limitation in concolor fir across a variety of site conditions. With few exceptions, there were no apparent relationships between soil nutrient pools and foliar nutrition, demonstrating the limitation of soil tests as a guide to nutrient amendments.

Download Full-text

Soil and pine foliage nutrient responses 15 years after competing-vegetation control and their correlation with growth for 13 loblolly pine plantations in the southern United States

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x06-164 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 36 (10) ◽

pp. 2412-2425 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

James H Miller ◽

H Lee Allen ◽

Bruce R Zutter ◽

Shepard M Zedaker ◽

Ray A Newbold

Keyword(s):

Loblolly Pine ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Foliar Nutrition ◽

Data Set ◽

Nutrient Contents ◽

Vegetation Control ◽

Foliar Nutrient ◽

Plantation Development ◽

Pinus Taeda L

Influences of competition-control treatments on long-term soil and foliar nutrition were examined using a regional data set (the Competition Omission Monitoring Project) that documents loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation development for 15 years after early intensive woody and (or) herbaceous control. Examined were trends for macro nutrients in soils sampled at years 0 and 15 and in pine foliage at years 2, 6, and 15 and their correlations with one another and with pine growth. Early control treatments resulted in distinct plantation successional patterns with contrasting herbaceous and woody components, all under pine-dominated canopies. There was an overall decrease in soil nutrient concentrations after 15 years of pine-plantation management, while C, N, and Ca decreased most after vegetation control. Early herbaceous treatments resulted in significantly less foliar N and K at year 15 as well. Foliar nutrient contents and fascicle mass at year 2 tended to be better correlated with year-15 pine volume than values at year 6 or year 15. Year-15 P concentrations had the strongest correlations between soil and foliar nutrient levels (r = 0.71–0.77). By year 15, intensive pine culture and vegetation control had placed demands on soil nutrient supplies to support enhanced growth that have not yet been replaced.

Download Full-text

Growth and nutrition of three conifer species across site gradients of north coastal British Columbia

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x02-188 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 313-324 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

J M Kranabetter ◽

A Banner ◽

J Shaw

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Tsuga Heterophylla ◽

Picea Sitchensis ◽

Thuja Plicata ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Foliar N ◽

Lower Productivity ◽

Growth And Nutrition ◽

Coastal British Columbia

We compared height growth and nutrition (foliar nutrient concentrations and retranslocation rates from 1-year-old needles) of second-growth plantations on imperfectly drained, lower productivity cedarhemlocksalal forests with those of more productive ecosystems of north coastal British Columbia. Soils ranged from deep organic profiles to well-drained mineral soils derived from igneous to metamorphic bedrock. Leader increments on imperfectly drained sites were smaller than on well-drained sites, averaging 42% less for western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), 56% less for Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière), and 32% less for western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don). Strong linear correlations were found between leader increment and foliar N, P, and S concentrations for all three tree species, and baseline foliar data for productive sites were presented. The foliar N ratios with P, S, and K were consistent across sites and indicated that many key foliar nutrients increased proportionally to the availability of N. A comparison of nutrient concentrations between current and 1-year-old foliage generally showed little difference on poorer sites, which suggested that there had been no retranslocation of nutrients from young needles within trees to compensate for low soil nutrient availability. This study confirmed the inherently low productivity of cedar-hemlock-salal forests, especially on granodiorite and gneissic diorite bedrock types, and suggested the need for site treatments or long rotations for sustainable management.

Download Full-text

Mycorrhizae: a key interaction for conservation of two endangered Magnolias from Andean forests

Plant Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.5091/plecevo.2019.1398 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 152 (1) ◽

pp. 30-40

Author(s):

Marcela Serna-González ◽

Ligia E. Urrego-Giraldo ◽

Nelson Walter Osorio ◽

Diego Valencia-Ríos

Keyword(s):

Soil Nutrient ◽

Principal Component ◽

Mycorrhizal Colonization ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Natural Forests ◽

Foliar Nutrition ◽

Neotropical Forests ◽

Conservation Projects

Background and aims – Magnolia species are highly endangered in neotropical forests where they are highly endemic and often very rare. However, little is known about their nutritional and soil conditions in natural forests. In this study, we focused on two endangered Magnolia species that cohabit in the Colombian Andean cloud forests in order to identify their conservation and nutritional status. We hypothesize that these species might exhibit mycorrhizal colonization that enhance nutrients uptake in poor and disturbed soils. Methods – Individuals of Magnolia jardinensis and M. yarumalensis were assessed in 11 000 m2 of Andean forests remnants from Jardín municipality (Antioquia, Colombia). Foliar and soil samples were analysed in the lab. Through a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) we identified the relationship between soil conditions and foliar nutrition. Root fragments and rhizosphere samples from seedlings and juveniles up to 3 m tall were collected to verify mycorrhizal colonization and presence of other microorganisms. Adults were excluded of the sampling due to the difficulties to differentiate their roots among the rest of the species in the forest fragments. Key results – The surveys show that the M. yarumalensis population has an inverted J-shaped diametric distribution suggesting a potential recovering population while the smaller overall distribution of M. jardinensis in all diametric categories suggests that this species is likely to become extinct. Both species grow in acidic, infertile soils, although foliar nutrient concentrations did not correlate with soil-nutrient availability. Such a discrepancy and the high colonization levels of mycorrhizae (60–70%) and dark septate endophytes (40–45%), suggest that plant-microorganisms may facilitate nutrition and enhance survival of Magnolia species in stressed environments. Other fungi and bacteria were also found in their rhizosphere, but their role with respect to Magnolia species remains unclear.Conclusions - Mycorrhizal colonization of endangered Magnolia species seems to play a key role to their performance in natural disturbed Andean forests. Aspects related to soil and rhizosphere ecology should be included in conservation projects for endangered and endemic plants.

Download Full-text

Integration of soil and foliar nutrition in influencing the yield related characters, yield and economics of nendran banana (musa aab group) and the soil nutrient status of cropped field

Journal of Crop and Weed ◽

10.22271/09746315.2020.v16.i1.1282 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 127-132

Author(s):

E.K. BASHMA ◽

B. SUDHA

Keyword(s):

Soil Nutrient ◽

Nutrient Status ◽

Soil Nutrient Status ◽

Foliar Nutrition

Download Full-text

Prediction Results of Different Modeling Methods in Soil Nutrient Concentrations Based on Spectral Technology

Journal of Applied Spectroscopy ◽

10.1007/s10812-019-00891-5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 86 (4) ◽

pp. 765-770 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

X.-Y. Li ◽

P.-P. Fan ◽

Y. Liu ◽

G.-L. Hou ◽

Q. Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Nutrient ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Modeling Methods

Download Full-text

Aboveground plant-to-plant communication reduces root nodule symbiosis and soil nutrient concentrations

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-92123-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yuta Takahashi ◽

Kaori Shiojiri ◽

Akira Yamawo

Keyword(s):

Root Nodule ◽

Total Phenolics ◽

Root Nodules ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Chemical Defenses ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Soil C ◽

Plant Communication ◽

Root Nodule Symbiosis ◽

Nodule Symbiosis

AbstractAboveground communication between plants is well known to change defense traits in leaves, but its effects on belowground plant traits and soil characteristics have not been elucidated. We hypothesized that aboveground plant-to-plant communication reduces root nodule symbiosis via induction of bactericidal chemical defense substances and changes the soil nutrient environment. Soybean plants were exposed to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from damaged shoots of Solidago canadensis var. scabra, and leaf defense traits (total phenolics, saponins), root saponins, and root nodule symbiosis traits (number and biomass of root nodules) were measured. Soil C/N ratios and mineral concentrations were also measured to estimate the effects of resource uptake by the plants. We found that total phenolics were not affected. However, plants that received VOCs had higher saponin concentrations in both leaves and roots, and fewer root nodules than untreated plants. Although the concentrations of soil minerals did not differ between treatments, soil C/N ratio was significantly higher in the soil of communicated plants. Thus, the aboveground plant-to-plant communication led to reductions in root nodule symbiosis and soil nutrient concentrations. Our results suggest that there are broader effects of induced chemical defenses in aboveground plant organs upon belowground microbial interactions and soil nutrients, and emphasize that plant response based on plant-to-plant communications are a bridge between above- and below-ground ecosystems.

Download Full-text